Continental to increase use of sustainable materials in tyre production
Continental’s innovative use of recycled and renewable materials is helping it drive measurable progress towards its long-term sustainability goals without compromising tyre performance.
Continental has announced it is increasing the use of sustainable materials in its tyre production.
Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag!
Continental has announced it is integrating an increased amount of renewable and recycled materials into its tyre production, with the tyre manufacturer expecting its shared 2024 average (of 26%) to increase by 2% to 3% in 2025, the latter the result of the use of synthetic rubber obtained renewable or circular oil, polyester fashioned from recycled PET, recycled steel and ‘innovative’ fillers, such as silica from rice husk ash. Noteworthy, Continental aims to surpass the 40% mark over the next five years.
“We are systematically increasing the share of renewable and recycled materials in our raw material portfolio,” says Jorge Almeida, head of sustainability at Continental. Almeida adds that, to achieve sustainable mobility, the company is constantly searching for more environmentally friendly materials to use in tyre production. “The improvements in sustainability go hand-in-hand with maintaining the same high safety and performance characteristics that Continental is renowned for.”
Related: Continental Tyre Continues Pursuit of Sustainability at Gqeberha Facility
Having been awarded a platinum medal, with a score of 84 out of 100 points (an improvement of 10 points over 2024), from EcoVadis, one of the world’s leading sustainability rating providers, Continental is ranked among the top 1% of companies in the industry in terms of sustainability. The assessment was based on environment, ethics, labour and human rights and sustainable procurement.
Continental says a significant driving force for its transformation towards greater sustainability is its mass balance approach, a chain of custody option where certified and non-certified materials are physically mixed throughout the value chain, but kept separate via verifiable bookkeeping — documenting and tracking the exact amount of renewable and recycled materials used to ensure that the quantity of alternative feedstocks allocated to the product matches the quantity sourced at the start of the production. With this system, renewable and recycled raw materials are integrated into existing production processes according to internationally recognised principles.
In addition to pursuing a holistic approach to tyre production, which includes ‘innovative’ technologies, digitalisation, local involvement in rubber cultivation and systematic risk mapping, the firm is steadily replacing conventional materials, such as steel and silica, for more sustainable alternatives. Continental’s ContiRe.Tex tech, in which recycled PED bottles are processed without intermediate chemical steps, is one of these, and has already been used in production since 2022. Thanks to its high stability standards, rupture strength and thermal stability, the company says it is well suited to be used in tyres.
Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!
The post Continental to Increase Use of Sustainable Materials in Tyre Production appeared first on CAR Magazine.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
